June 2024

U.K. pension funds oppose dual-class voting proposed by regulators

U.K. pension funds and asset owners with a collective £136.2 billion ($173.2 billion) oppose reforms to U.K. listings that would allow for dual-class share structures that carry separate levels of voting rights. Dual-class share structures are already prevalent in other markets, such as the U.S. and Sweden. More than 40% of U.S. technology initial public offerings used dual-class structures between 2020 and 2022, according to a report by the Investor Coalition for Equal Votes. In a signed a letter to Ashley...

German Allianz to invest in China’s mega pension company with 2% stake

 Allianz Global Investors (AGI), one of the investment arms of German insurer Allianz, has become the first foreign company to own a stake in China's pension insurance giant Guomin Pension. AGI was allowed to subscribe to newly issued shares representing 2% in the company, and the stake is worth 228 million yuan ($31.40 million), the pension firm said in a statement issued Monday. Guomin Pension, jointly launched by China's largest banks and insurers, was established in 2022 to promote the development...

Thailand becomes first South-East Asian country to legalise same sex marriage

Thailand has become the first nation in South-East Asia to legalise same sex marriage, with the country's Senate approving the landmark bill on Tuesday afternoon. The legislation was expected to pass after it cleared the country's House of Representatives in a near-unanimous vote in March. Despite Thailand's bustling gay bars and prominent transgender community making it a mecca for LGBTQ+ tourists, until now local same-sex couples there have been unable to marry. The law will take effect 120 days after its announcement in the...

Americans Want Pensions To Make a Comeback. Will They?

It’s financially challenging to comfortably retire in the U.S. and many Americans work, without necessarily “wanting” to, well into their golden years. Though not being able to save enough for a secure retirement isn’t a particularly new crisis, the struggle has become more widespread in recent decades. One of the factors fueling the problem is the mass decline of the traditional pension plan. Americans want pension plans to make a comeback. According to a recent report from the National Institute for Retirement Security, 83%...

La situación de las mujeres trans en el Perú: la lucha por empleos y servicios de salud de calidad

Durante el mes del orgullo, millones de personas y colectivos LGBTIQ+ se organizan para realizar marchas, manifestaciones y actividades que celebren su identidad; sin embargo, la lucha de este segmento de la población va más allá de estos 30 días, ya que, en realidad, para una buena parte de esta población, los conflictos suelen presentarse a lo largo de todo el año. Perú y sus ciudadanos no son ajenos a esta realidad. Según una encuesta de Ipsos del 2023, el 71% de peruanos reconoce que...

El gremio de AFP critica la reforma pensional aprobada en Colombia

La reforma de pensiones de Colombia sigue avanzando, consiguiendo la aprobación exprés del texto en el Congreso, y la industria de administradoras de fondos previsionales no tiene una buena visión de esto. Según señalan desde el gremio, esta reforma es una oportunidad perdida para resolver “el problema de fondo” del sistema en el país latinoamericano. Desde la Asociación Colombiana de Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones y de Cesantía (Asofondos) –que agrupa a las AFP Colfondos, Porvenir, Protección y Skandia– publicaron una declaración criticando el proyecto y señalando que el...

The United States will need 7 million migrants to cover old age support programs for baby boomers

The immigration crisis has become a recurring theme in social gatherings and political debates, and is the main issue of the U.S. presidential election. Amid this discussion, one certainty stands out: while it’s well known that migrants have a need to live in the United States, a study has highlighted that the country needs them too. Twenty percent of U.S. workers were not born in the United States, and it is expected that in the near future more than seven million more migrants...

Russia. Putin suggests using oil windfall for pensions

Russia's President Vladimir Putin suggested on Thursday to use a part of the accumulated oil wealth to support voluntary pensions saving and capitalise development institutions. "Part of the money in the National Prosperity Fund should be used to co-finance voluntary pension savings," Putin said in his annual address to both houses of parliament. Putin suggested the state should contribute 1,000 roubles for each 1,000 roubles contributed by private individuals in voluntary pension savings schemes. "Part of the money should be used for...

How financial advisors can help LGBTQ clients prepare for retirement

However, as they prepare to settle down and retire, LGBTQ people tend to have higher debt and lower confidence, which can make them particularly vulnerable as they plan for retirement. Advisors can take steps to make sure they are conscious and respectful of how clients' identities may affect their retirement planning. Financial Planning spoke with three LGBTQ advisors who service clients in their community and asked them about how they best provide top-notch advice to their clients. Jana Davis, a financial...

UK. Could ESG factors for pension schemes be a hot topic following the General Election?

The General Election and ESG With the General Election looming, all of the main parties have now published their manifestos, setting out their key pledges and policy aims for the next parliamentary session. The election debates have already produced some heated discussion around areas such as immigration, defence, the NHS and tax levies. In past elections, political parties have made bold promises in relation to meeting net zero targets and tackling climate change – and this year is no different. It...